Dr Alison Voice

Profile

Alison obtained her BSc in Physics from Exeter University and her PhD in Soft Matter Physics from the University of Leeds. She also has a PGCE from Liverpool University. She has worked at the University of Leeds for over 25 years, initially as a post-doctoral researcher and since 1995 as an academic member of staff. Throughout her career Alison has combined scientific research with innovative developments in the teaching of physics, and she has held the role of Director of Student Education in Physics for many years.

Alison is a senior fellow of the Higher Education Academy, a degree accreditation assessor for the Institute of Physics, and was a member of the QAA team tasked with creating the Benchmark Statement for Physics & Astronomy. She thus has a wide experience of teaching physics and quality assurance of student education.

Having undertaken scientific research in soft matter physics for the first part of her career, she now concentrates on researching and developing student education within physics and has founded a Physics Education Research Group in the School of Physics & Astronomy at Leeds.

Responsibilities

• Director of Student Education in Physics
• Head of Physics Education Research Group

Research interests

Having founded the Physics Education Research Group at Leeds Alison is involved in a variety of projects encompassing the whole student journey through their degree, from transition into 1st year, collaborative group work (face to face and online), spaced repetition to ensure deep learning of physics, and embedding of employability skills to help students transition successfully into the next stage of their career.

<h4>Research projects</h4> <p>Any research projects I'm currently working on will be listed below. Our list of all <a href="https://eps.leeds.ac.uk/dir/research-projects">research projects</a> allows you to view and search the full list of projects in the faculty.</p>

Qualifications

• BSc Physics
• PhD Soft Matter Physics
• PGCE

Professional memberships

• Member of Institute of Physics
• Chartered Physicist
• Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy

Student education

As Director of Student Education in Physics Alison has responsibility for all aspects of the student journey while studying physics at the university.  As such this involves providing a warm welcome to all students at the start of their studies, supportive academic and pastoral tutoring, high quality teaching, assessent and learning facilities, listening to student feedback and working with our students and staff to ensure an exceptional education experience in physics. Alison also works to deliver a wide range of opportunites for students to follow their interests as part of their education, with embedded careers activities to allow students to launch out into a wide variety of areas after their degree.

Research groups and institutes

• Physics Education

Current postgraduate researchers

• Raf Flores-Adrian

<h4>Postgraduate research opportunities</h4> <p>We welcome enquiries from motivated and qualified applicants from all around the world who are interested in PhD study. Our <a href="https://phd.leeds.ac.uk">research opportunities</a> allow you to search for projects and scholarships.</p>

Projects

<li><a href="//phd.leeds.ac.uk/project/495-factors-for-success:-physics-students-from-non-traditional-pre-university-education">Factors for success: Physics students from non-traditional pre-university education</a></li>